Vice commander takes first flight with ABNCP

  • Published
  • By Ariman 1st Class Emerald Ralston
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Col. Paul Gydesen, 341st Space Wing vice commander, took his first flight with the Airborne Command Post Jan. 16. 

Colonel Gydesen is one of a select few O-6s who have the opportunity to fly with the ABNCP, which controls strategic deterrents from the sky in the event ground sources were disabled, and serve as a flag officer for exercise and readiness purposes. General officers would normally fly in a real-world situation, but are not always available for training purposes. 

"This was a training flight, particularly for me since it was my first time," Colonel Gydesen said. "We went through scenarios and activities as if we were in war-time conditions and simulated the measures we'd take in the event of an actual threat." 

The ABNCP crew flies missions over the United States for six hours at a time. The main landing location for the aircraft is Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. 

The battle staff crew consists of eight people: the emergency action officer (Colonel Gydesen's position), operations officer, airborne launch control officer, mission commander, force status non-commissioned officer, emergency action controller, logistics officer and a weather officer. The crews rotate every week.
Colonel Gydesen is required to fly 12 hours each quarter and said he intends to fly once a month. 

"It was great to have the opportunity to fly with the Strategic Command Battlestaff," Colonel Gydesen said. "We had Air Force, Navy and Marines on the flight and it was a wonderful opportunity to see the services come together in a joint environment to perform a national strategic deterrent mission." 

Colonel Gydesen was recommended for the position by Maj. Gen. Thomas Deppe, Air Force Space Command vice commander, and the recommendation was approved by Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director, Air Force Staff.